[Federal Register: March 24, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 55)]
[Notices]
[Page 12437-12441]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24mr09-152]
----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2009-0081]
Notice of Fiscal Year 2010 Safety Grants and Solicitation for
Applications
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice is to inform the public of the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Fiscal
[[Page 12438]]
Year (FY) 2010 safety grant opportunities and to request public
comments regarding changes to its application and award processes for
grant programs. The Agency is making procedural changes in an effort to
simplify and streamline its grants application and award processes. In
addition, FMCSA invites comments on the proposed application deadlines
for its FY 2010 (October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010) safety
grants programs. The 11 safety programs include the Motor Carrier
Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Basic grants; MCSAP Incentive grants;
MCSAP New Entrant Safety Audit grants; MCSAP High Priority grants;
Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operator Safety Training grants; Border
Enforcement grants (BEG); Commercial Driver's License Program
Improvement (CDLPI) grants; Commercial Driver's License Information
System (CDLIS) Modernization grants; Performance and Registration
Information Systems Management (PRISM) grants; Safety Data Improvement
Program grants (SaDIP); and the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems
and Networks (CVISN) grants. Each grant program was provided for in the
Agency's most recent authorization, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
The purpose of this notice is to provide grantees with information well
in advance of the Agency's proposed FY 2010 safety grant application
deadlines and to request comments on the deadlines and other changes in
the Agency's safety grant programs.
DATES: Comments on the proposed application deadlines and other changes
should be submitted by April 23, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA-2009-0081, using any of the
following methods.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the On-Line instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Grand Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number for
this Notice. Note that DOT posts all comments received without change
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
included in the comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time or Room W12-140
on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The FDMS is available 24 hours each day, 365
days each year. If you want acknowledgement that we received your
comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard
or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting
comments On-line.
Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or of the person signing the comment, if
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.) You
may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19476). This information is
also available at http://DocketInfo.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the following FMCSA
staff with questions or needed information on the Agency's grant
programs:
New Entrant Safety Audits Grants--Arthur Williams,
arthur.williams@dot.gov, 202-366-3695.
Border Enforcement Grants--Carla Vagnini, carla.vagnini@dot.gov, 202-366-3771.
MCSAP High Priority Grants--Cim Weiss, cim.weiss@dot.gov, 202-366-
0275.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--Julie Otto,
julie.otto@dot.gov, 202-366-0710.
CDLPI Grants--Brandon Poarch, brandon.poarch@dot.gov, 202-366-3030.
CDLIS Modernization Grants--Brandon Poarch, brandon.poarch@dot.gov,
202-366-3030.
SaDIP Grants--Betsy Benkowski, betsy.benkowski@dot.gov, 202-366-
4808.
PRISM Grants--Tom Lawler, tom.lawler@dot.gov, 202-366-3866.
CVISN Grants--Julie Lane, julie.lane@dot.gov, 202-385-2391.
All staff may be reached at FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FMCSA recognizes that State governments and
other grantees are dependent on its safety grants to develop and
maintain important commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety programs.
FMCSA further acknowledges that delays in awarding grant funds may have
an adverse impact on these important safety programs. As a result,
FMCSA has been conducting a grants process review, in an effort to
identify ways to streamline the application, award, and grants
management processes, and to award grant funds earlier each fiscal
year. In addition, FMCSA is making changes in the grants application,
award and oversight processes to standardize application forms,
increase the use of electronic documents, standardize quarterly reports
and reduce the number of needed grant amendments.
First, FMCSA is considering the establishment of standardized due
dates for its grant programs. In the DATES section above, we indicate
the proposed schedule for the FY 2010 grant applications. These dates
would then become the standing application due dates for these
programs.
Second, consistent with its contract authority, FMCSA plans to
enter into grant agreements beginning October 1 or as soon thereafter
as administratively practicable. FMCSA intends to enter into grant
agreements no later than 90 days from the date the application is due.
We request comments from the States and other grant applicants on the
impacts of the proposed schedule.
Third, FMCSA is considering a standard grant application form and
must implement a new quarterly reporting process. FMCSA is reviewing
the Standard Form 424 (``Application for Federal Assistance'') and its
attachments for use throughout all of its grant programs. While each
grant program may request different data in some of the data fields on
the form, the use of the Standard Form 424 would be mandatory. FMCSA
must adopt the Standard Form--Project Progress Report (SF-PPR) as its
preferred form for quarterly reporting. FMCSA requests comment from
grantees on the impacts of these changes. Again, each grant program
may, in certain instances, request different data be submitted in some
of the fields or boxes on the form but SF-PRR would be mandatory for
quarterly reporting.
Fourth, FMCSA is increasing the use of electronic documents. As a
result, the
[[Page 12439]]
number of original copies of grant agreements required to be submitted
to FMCSA will be reduced from three copies to two. In addition, FMCSA
will provide most grant agreement documents electronically to its
financial processing office. Grantees would, however, be required to
submit the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Vendor Payment Form (SF-3881)
directly to FMCSA's financial processing office by U.S. Postal Service,
courier service or secure fax. We request information on any impacts of
these proposed changes.
Lastly, FMCSA requests comments and suggestions from grantees
concerning improvement of the application, award and grants management
processes. Additional information is provided below for each individual
grant program.
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants:
Sections 4101 and 4107 of SAFETEA-LU authorize and fund FMCSA's
Motor Carrier Safety Grants for FY 2005 through FY 2009. MCSAP Basic
and Incentive grants are governed by 49 U.S.C. 31102-31104 and 49 CFR
Part 350. Under the Basic and Incentive grants programs, a State lead
MCSAP agency, as designated by its Governor, is eligible to apply for
Basic and Incentive grant funding by submitting a commercial vehicle
safety plan (CVSP). See 49 CFR 350.201 and 205. Pursuant to 49 CFR
350.303, FMCSA will reimburse each lead State MCSAP agency 80 percent
of eligible costs incurred in a fiscal year. Each State will provide a
20 percent match to qualify for the program. In accordance with 49 CFR
350.323, the Basic grant funds will be distributed proportionally to
each State's lead MCSAP agency using the following four, equally
weighted (25 percent) factors:
(1) 1997 road miles (all highways) as defined by the FMCSA;
(2) All vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as defined by the FMCSA;
(3) Population--annual census estimates as issued by the U.S.
Census Bureau; and
(4) Special fuel consumption (net after reciprocity adjustment) as
defined by the FMCSA.
A State's lead MCSAP agency may qualify for Incentive Funds if it
can demonstrate that the State's CMV safety program has shown
improvement in any or all of the following five categories:
(1) Reduction in the number of large truck-involved fatal
accidents;
(2) Reduction in the rate of large-truck-involved fatal accidents
or maintenance of a large-truck-involved fatal accident rate that is
among the lowest 10 percent of such rates for MCSAP recipients and is
not higher than the rate most recently achieved;
(3) Upload of CMV accident reports in accordance with current FMCSA
policy guidelines;
(4) Verification of Commercial Driver's Licenses during all
roadside inspections; and
(5) Upload of CMV inspection data in accordance with current FMCSA
policy guidelines.
Incentive funds will be distributed in accordance with 49 CFR
350.327(b).
Prior to the start of each fiscal year, FMCSA calculates the amount
of Basic and Incentive funding each State is expected to receive. This
information is provided to the States and is made available on the
Agency's Web site. The FY 2009 information is available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/safety-security/ATTCHMNT3-Est-09-Funding-Planning-Dist.pdf.
It should be noted that MCSAP Basic and Incentive grants are
awarded based on the State's submission of the CVSP. The evaluation
factors described in the section below titled "Application Information
for FY 2010 Grants" will not be considered and submission of
applications to grants.gov is not necessary.
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants:
Sections 4101 and 4107of SAFETEA-LU also authorize and fund the
Motor Carrier Safety Grants for FY 2005 through FY 2009 to enable grant
recipients to conduct interstate New Entrant safety audits consistent
with 49 CFR Parts 350.321 and 385.301. Eligible recipients are State
agencies, local governments, and organizations representing government
agencies that use and train qualified officers and employees in
coordination with State motor vehicle safety agencies. The FMCSA's
share of these grant funds will be 100 percent. New Entrant grant
applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov
(http://www.grants.gov).
MCSAP High Priority Grants:
Section 4101 of SAFETEA-LU also authorizes and funds the Motor
Carrier Safety Grants for FY 2005 through FY 2009 to enable recipients
to carry out activities and projects that improve CMV safety and
compliance with CMV regulations. Funding is available for projects that
are national in scope, increase public awareness and education,
demonstrate new technologies and reduce the number and rate of CMV
accidents. Eligible recipients are State agencies, local governments,
and organizations representing government agencies that use and train
qualified officers and employees in coordination with State motor
vehicle safety agencies.
For grants awarded for public education activities, the Federal
share will be 100 percent. For all High Priority grants other than
those awarded in support of public education activities, the FMCSA will
provide reimbursements for no more than 80 percent of all eligible
costs, and recipients will be required to provide a 20 percent match.
FMCSA may reserve High Priority funding exclusively for innovative
traffic enforcement projects, with particular emphasis on work zone
enforcement and rural road safety. Also, FMCSA may reserve funding for
an innovative traffic enforcement initiative known as ``Ticketing
Aggressive Cars and Trucks'' or TACT. TACT provides a research-based
safety model that can be replicated by States when conducting a high-
visibility traffic enforcement program to promote safe driving
behaviors among car and truck drivers. The objective of this program is
to reduce the number of commercial truck and bus related crashes,
fatalities and injuries resulting from improper operation of motor
vehicles and aggressive driving behavior. More information regarding
TACT can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/tact/abouttact.htm.
High Priority grant applications must be submitted electronically
through grants.gov.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants:
Section 4134 of SAFETEA-LU establishes a grant program which
enables recipients to train current and future drivers in the safe
operation of CMVs, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 31301(4). Eligible awardees
include State governments, local governments and accredited post-
secondary educational institutions (public or private) such as
colleges, universities, vocational-technical schools and truck driver
training schools. Funding priority for this discretionary grant funding
will be given to regional or multi-state educational or nonprofit
associations serving economically distressed regions of the United
States. The Federal share of these funds will be 80 percent, and
recipients will be required to provide a 20 percent match. CMV Operator
Safety Training grant applications must be submitted electronically
through grants.gov.
Border Enforcement Grants (BEG):
Section 4110 of SAFETEA-LU established the BEG program. The purpose
of this discretionary program is to provide funding for border CMV
safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects. An
entity or a State that shares a land border with
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another country is eligible to receive this grant funding. Eligible
awardees include State governments, local governments, and entities
(i.e., accredited post-secondary public or private educational
institutions such as universities). Requests from entities must be
coordinated with the State lead CMV inspection agency. Applications
must include a Border Enforcement Plan and meet the required
maintenance of expenditure requirement. BEG funding decisions take into
consideration the State or entity's performance on previous BEG awards;
its ability to expend the awarded funds with the BEG performance year;
and activities meeting the BEG national criteria established by the
FMCSA. As established by SAFETEA-LU, the Federal share of these funds
will be 100 percent, and there is no matching requirement. BEG grant
applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov.
CDLPI Grants:
Section 4124 of SAFETEA-LU includes a discretionary grant program
that provides funding for improving States' implementation of the
Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, including expenses for
computer hardware and software, publications, testing, personnel,
training. Funds may not be used to rent, lease, or buy land or
buildings. The agency designated by each State as the primary driver
licensing agency responsible for the development, implementation, and
maintenance of the CDL program is eligible to apply for grant funding.
State grant proposals must include the State's assessment of its CDL
and a detailed budget explaining how the funds will be used. The
Federal share of funds for projects awarded under this grant is
established by SAFETEA-LU as 100 percent. Therefore, there is no State
matching requirement. The funding opportunity announcement on
grants.gov will provide more detailed information on the application
process; national funding priorities for FY 2010; evaluation criteria;
required documents and certifications; State maintenance of expenditure
requirements; and additional information related to the availability of
funds. CLDPI grant applications must be submitted electronically
through grants.gov.
CDLIS Modernization Grants:
Section 4123 of SAFETEA-LU includes a discretionary grant program
that provides funding for modernization of CDLIS. This section includes
funds for States to upgrade their driver licensing information systems
for the specific purpose of making them compatible with the new
modernized CDLIS specifications. The agency in each State designated as
the primary driver licensing agency responsible for the development,
implementation, and maintenance of the CDL program is eligible to apply
for grant funding. The Federal share of the funds for projects awarded
under this grant is established by SAFETEA-LU as 80 percent; there is a
20 percent matching requirement. States may use in-kind contributions
to meet this matching requirement (including annual CDLIS pointer
fees). Funds are available to any State that is in substantial
compliance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 31311 and submits a grant
proposal that qualifies under the conditions in this notice, including
assuming the responsibility of incorporating the new CDLIS
specifications and improving its commercial driver licensing system.
State grant proposals must include a detailed budget explaining how the
funds will be used and how the State will meet the matching
requirements. The funding opportunity announcement on grants.gov will
provide more detailed information on the application process; eligible
projects under the CDLIS Modernization plan; evaluation criteria;
required documents and certifications; and additional information
related to the availability of funds. CDLIS Modernization grant
applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov.
SaDIP Grants:
Section 4128 of SAFETEA-LU establishes a Safety Data Improvement
Program (SaDIP) grant program to improve the quality of crash and
inspection truck and bus data reported by the States to FMCSA, as
described 49 U.S.C. 31102. Eligible recipients are State agencies,
local governments, and organizations representing government agencies
that are involved with highway traffic safety activities and must
demonstrate a capacity to work with highway traffic safety
stakeholders. The State's SaDIP proposal must focus on a project that
enhances the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the collection
and reporting of Commercial Motor Vehicle crash information in all
components of the State's record system. An applicant's proposed SaDIP
project must address the seven (7) performance measures for
completeness, accuracy and timeliness of data reported by the States to
FMCSA plus the overriding indicator established for the State Safety
Data Quality (SSDQ) program. These measures can be found at: http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/DataQuality/dataquality.asp?redirect=methodology.asp.
FMCSA will provide reimbursements for no more that 80 percent of all
eligible costs and recipients are required to provide a 20 percent
match.
PRISM Grants:
Section 4109 of SAFETEA-LU provides funding for States to implement
the Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM)
requirements that link Federal motor carrier safety information systems
with State CMV registration and licensing systems to enable a State to
determine the safety fitness of a motor carrier or registrant when
licensing or registering or while the license or registration is in
effect. PRISM grant applications must be submitted electronically
through grants.gov. No matching funds are required.
CVISN Grants:
Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU provides funding for States to deploy,
operate, and maintain elements of their Commercial Vehicle Information
Systems and Networks (CVISN) Program, including commercial vehicle,
commercial driver, and carrier-specific information systems and
networks. The agency in each State designated as the primary agency
responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of a
CVISN-related system is eligible to apply for grant funding.
Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU distinguishes between two types of CVISN
projects: Core and Expanded. To be eligible for funding of Core CVISN
deployment project(s), a State must have its most current Core CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design approved by FMCSA and the proposed
project(s) should be consistent with its approved Core CVISN Program
Plan and Top-Level Design. If a State does not have a Core CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design, it may apply for up to $100,000 in
funds to either compile or update a Core CVISN Program Plan and Top-
Level Design.
A State may also apply for funds to prepare an Expanded CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design if FMCSA acknowledged the State as
having completed Core CVISN deployment. In order to be eligible for
funding of any Expanded CVISN deployment project(s), a State must have
its most current Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design
approved by FMCSA and any proposed Expanded CVISN project(s) should be
consistent with its Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design.
If a State does not have an Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level
Design, it may apply for up to $100,000 in funds to either compile or
update an Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design.
[[Page 12441]]
CVISN grant applications must be submitted electronically through
grants.gov. Awards for approved CVISN grant applications are made on a
first-come, first-served basis. States must provide a match of 50
percent.
Application Information for FY 2010 Grants: General information
about the FMCSA grant programs is available in the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) which can be found on the Internet at http://www.cfda.gov. To apply for funding, applicants must register with grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get-registered.jsp and
submit an application in accordance with instructions provided.
Evaluation Factors: The following evaluation factors will be used
in reviewing the applications for all FMCSA discretionary grants:
(1) Prior performance--Completion of identified programs and goals
per the project plan.
(2) Effective Use of Prior Grants--Demonstrated timely use and
expensing of available funds.
(3) Cost Effectiveness--Applications will be evaluated and
prioritized on the expected impact on safety relative to the investment
of grant funds. Where appropriate, costs per unit will be calculated
and compared with national averages to determine effectiveness. In
other areas, proposed costs will be compared with historical
information to confirm reasonableness.
(4) Applicability to announced priorities--If national priorities
are included in the grants.gov notice, those grants that specifically
address these issues will be given priority consideration.
(5) Ability of the applicant to support the strategies and
activities in the proposal for the entire project period of
performance.
Use of innovative approaches in executing a project plan to address
identified safety issues.
(6) Feasibility of overall program coordination and implementation
based upon the project plan.
(7) Grant specific evaluation factors as described in the
grants.gov application information .
Proposed Application Due Dates: For the following grant programs,
FMCSA will consider funding complete applications or plans submitted by
the following dates:
SaDIP Grants--June 1, 2009.
CVISN Grants--July 15, 2009.
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants--August 1, 2009.
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants--September 1, 2009.
Border Enforcement Grants--September 15, 2009.
MCSAP High Priority Grants--September 15, 2009.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--October 1, 2009.
CDLIP Grants--November 1, 2009.
CDLIS Modernization Grants--November 1, 2009.
PRISM Grants--November 15, 2009.
FMCSA seeks comments from potential grant applicants on the impacts of
this schedule on their ability to develop comprehensive applications
and submit them on time. Applications submitted after due dates may be
considered on a case-by-case basis.
Issued on: March 19, 2009.
Anna J. Amos,
Acting Associate Administrator for Enforcement and Program Delivery.
Terry T. Shelton,
Associate Administrator for Research and Information Technology.
[FR Doc. E9-6473 Filed 3-23-09; 8:45 am]
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